Tuesday, December 1, 2015

The horrific memories
of that night of 26/11 when the terrorists hijacked the police vehicle and killed top cops and then went on shooting
innocents haunts people. Nation needs to keep away from worthless debates –
those on silver screen are not the heroes – they are just entertainers, if at
all you like movies – no other importance they deserve !!

Comics are an
integral part of every child’s growth – in our days we had the Ambulimama
(chandamama) / Amar chitra katha.
Today’s kid are obsessed with Jetix of Walt Disney. The children of the Nation must be reading
about those who fought for our Nation, those freedom fighters who underwent
untold harships and those illustrious
Bhaskar Kadam, Hemant Bawdhankar, Sanjay Govilkar, Tukaram Omble, Hemant Karkare, Ashok Kamte , Vijay Salaskar, Shashank Shinde, Major
Sandeep Unnikrishnan, Hawaldar Gajendra Singh – and the like who fought
valiantly during that Mumbai siege.
There were so many unsung heroes too – for example the Fire Service of
Mumbai whose personnel did not flinch once as they grabbed their gear and rushed
to douse fire amid an intense gun battle.

1977 born Sandeep Unnikrishnan, rose to become a
Major in the Indian Army serving in the elite Special Action Group of the
National Security Guards (NSG) and gave
his life fighting terrorists in the
November 2008 Mumbai attacks. His bravery was honoured with the Ashoka Chakra,
India's highest peace time gallantry award, on 26 January 2009. “Do not come
up, I will handle them”, were the last words which Major Unnikrishnan told his
men as he was hit by bullets while engaging terrorists inside the Taj Mahal
Palace & Tower during Operation Black Tornado, according to NSG officials.

It would remain the
carnage, the coordinated shooting not only killing 173 Indians but causing
irreparable damage to the Indian economy
and psyche in its trail. The investigations revealed that the attackers had
travelled by sea from Karachi, Pakistan across the Arabian Sea, hijacked the
Indian fishing trawler 'Kuber', killing the crew, and then entered Mumbai on a
rubber dinghy. Due to the sacrifice of Omble, a terrorist was captured alive,
but for which many would have floated different theories and versions of the
incident. There were many heroes who
sacrified their life.

This week, the body of Sepoy A.M. Subinesh, who was killed
during an encounter between the Indian Army and Pak-trained militants along the
Line of Control in Nowshera sector in Jammu and Kashmir was cremated on the
premises of his residence at Cheliya in the district with State honours and 18
gun shots by the Calicut Military Station.
Subinesh, 26, was a native of Cheliya at Chengottukkavu in Kozhikode
district. Indian Army personnel led by
Calicut Military Station Officer Colonel P. Mohandas and the Kannur Territorial
Army battalion received the body near the West Hill Barracks where a guard of
honour was held in the morning. The body was then taken in a funeral procession
in an open army vehicle. It was then kept in makeshift pandal at Muthu Bazaar
for the public to pay homage.

Hundreds of people
from all walks of life paid their last respects to the soldier who laid down
his life battling militants. Subinesh was fired by terrorists close to the Line
of Control in the forward areas of Nowshera sector on Monday. He was seriously
injured in the fire-fight and died while being evacuated to military hospital. Subinesh
had joined the army eight years ago. He was to reach home on December 5 for his
marriage. It was fixed on December 20. Three months ago he had left for Kashmir
after a leave.

~ ~ and among those who paid homage to the martyr was another real hero.

P V
Maneesh is a perfect emblem of courage. Not just because he was a NSG commando,
not just because he took part in the operation against terrorists at the Taj
Hotel in Mumbai during the horrid hours of 26/11. More because he showed courage to walk back to
life from a debilitating head injury which he suffered during that operation.
If he is not a hero, then hardly anyone is qualified to be one. And there is
another trait that heroes share — camaraderie. Maneesh showed it in full
measure when he visited the house of A M Subinesh, who was killed while
fighting against terrorists in Kashmir.

But
Maneesh and Subinesh had shared a much deeper bond. Subinesh used to call him
regularly, checking on his health and was a genuine well-wisher. His presence
through words was a massive encouragement for Maneesh, had been paralysed after
injuries that he suffered from a grenade blast. He recalled the action days in Mumbai and his
subsequent struggles while touching base with Express.

Though
the thought of people forgetting the contributions of soliders mildly irked
him, Maneesh was quick to put it behind. “People may remember me for the action
undertaken during the Mumbai terror attack, as it got its due attention from
media. But there are many unsung heroes in all the defence forces, who may not
have to sacrifice their life but continue to serve their country under
difficult conditions,” he said.
Recalling the Mumbai episode, he said, “We received the call when we
were in Delhi. Trained for such situations, we quickly geared up for the action
and entered the hotel where the terrorists were camping. Just as the team
killed a terrorist, a grenade exploded in front of us and the sharpnel hit my
skull and I fainted.” Maneesh was in coma for a year and when he returned to
consciousness he was paralysed. Several rounds of treatment followed. His
determination helped him stage a comeback. But Maneesh still gets fits and
needs others’ help occasionally. “Had it not been for my family and friends, I
would not have recovered this fast,” he said. He is now attached to the 122
Territorial army.

Let’s raise
a toast for a true hero then! ~ dear Maneeshji, Nation for sure loves and
respects you and your ilk. Great people
you are !!!

With regards – S.
Sampathkumar

PS : the last part in blue reproduced
from The New Indian Express of date.